Door-closing device



1927. Feb w. G. LAIRD DdoR CLOSING DEVICE 2, 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov Feb. 1,1927.

W. G. LAIRD DOOR CLOSING DEVICE s Sheets-Shet 2 Filed Nov.

Feb. 1,1927n W. G. LAIRD DOOR CLOSING DEVICE 2, 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov.

3m tot,- MM- M14 Patented Feb. 1, 1927.;

UNTTEEU fiTATEd ear nnate WHCE.

'WILBUR G. LAIRD, OF NEW YORK, Y1, ASSIGNOR T HENRY L. DOHEETY, OF NEW YORK, Iii. Y;

DOOR-CLOSING DEVICE.

This invention relates to a gas tight door closing device for containers and more specifically to doorclosing and locking apparatus for gas generating furnaces. The apparatus of the present invention is devised for use particularly on continuously and intermittently operated gas generators which are periodically opened to permit the exhaust of gas during one of a cycle of operations as, for instance, in heating the charge of coal by direct comb ustion' or for the removal of coke, and is immediately thereafter closed and sealed to prevent the escape of gas during the succeeding gas making operations of the cycle. For this purpose the closing means should be so constructed that it may be quickly swung to wide open or to closed position inorder that the intervals of time between successive cycles in the operation of the generator may be-as short as possible. It. is also essential that a heavy closing pressure, sufficient to insure a'gas tight joint and prevent the escape of any gases generated w 1th in the generator, should be quickly exerted on the door as soon as it is closed.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a door. closing and opel'iing device which will operate the door in heavy closing and locking force on the door in its closed position;

A further object of the invention is to provide a door closingdevice of the above type in which the closing pressure on the (ioor may be easily adjusted.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the apparatus described in the following specification and defined in the claims.

The various features of the invention are shown in the accompanying. drawings, in which: v

'Fig. 1 is a vertical elevation of a door operating and locking device, embodying a preferred form of the invention, which is adapted to control the discharge of coke from a gas generator;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the door closing device, taken on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig.8 is a front elevation of the door closing apparatus as applied to an exhaust rent for the furnace;

5 shown in Fig. and

a minimum of time and will insure a very Fig. i is a planview of the apparatus Fig. 5 1s a side elevation of the device shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

In Figs. 1 and 2, a door operating device embodying the present invention is shown as applied to a discharge hopper 10 of a gas generator. Coke is discharged into the hopper from the gas generating furnace and is removed at intervals through an opening in the bottom of the hopper when a discharge door 12, mounted over the opening, is opened. The door 12 is controlled by an operating mechanism which in its closed position forces and locks the door against a downwardly projecting knife edge formed on a frame 1 1 surrounding the discharge openin of the hopper 10. When the operating mec ianism moves the door to open position, the door swings on hinges 16 mounted on the frame 14 and assumes the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

The door operating and locking mecha- HISIIL comprises a yoke 18 pivoted to the frame 14 on opposite sides of the door, a pressure link 20 pivotally connected to a cross bar 22 of the yoke 18 and to the bottom of the door 12 and means for-swinging the yoke to open and closed position. The yoke 18 and link 20 are of such length that when they are brought into alingment (as shown in full in Fig. 2) they form a toggle which forces the plate .12 upward against the downwardly extending knife edge 13 of the frame 14: and locks the door gas-tight against the frame. To open the door 12, the yoke 18 is swung on the pivots connecting itto the frame 14. As the yoke 18 is swung to opening position, it first unlocks the toggle and then draws the pressure link 20 and door 12 to fully open position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

The yoke 18 is swung about its pivots by means of a driving rod pivotally connected to the yoke 18 adjacent the point where the pressure link 20 is connected to the yoke. The driving rod 24 is actuated to operate the door closing mechanism by'the rotation of a pinion 26 which engages a rack 28 formed on the lower side of the driving rod. The pinion 26 is mounted on a rotatable shaft 30 carried in a bearing 32 which is mounted on a bracket 34 secured to the side of the a of a hand wheel 38 rotated to open orclose the door 12 by means mounted on the shaft 30. When the hand wheel 38' is rotated in a direction to open the door 12, the first movement of the driving rod swings the yoke 18 from its vertical position and breaks the toggle formed by the yoke 18 and the resframe. Through sure link 20. The further movement 0 the driving rod 24 opens the door 12 with a com.- paratively slow initial movement and with a much faster motion as the yoke approaches and swings past the hinge 16. When being closed, however, the door 12 is swung rapidly until. it is brought to nearly closed position, and is moved into fully closed position at a much slower speed and with increasing power as the toggle formed by the yoke 18 and link 20 is straightened, finally forcing the door into a gas-tight position'on the this arrangement the greatest power is exerted at the time when the greatest resistance is oflFeredv to closure.

The pressure exerted by the toggle action of the yoke 18 and link 20 may be adjusted to take up any wear on the knife edges of the frame 14 or the plate 12 and insure a gas-tight closureof the door 12 against the frame 14 by adjusting the length of the link 20. To this end the link 20 is made in two oppositely threaded sections which are connected by means of a turn-buckle 39. When the turn-buckle 39 is rotated in one direction or the other, the length of the.

pressurelink 20 isaccordingly increased or decreased.

In Figs. 3, 4 and 5 the door closing ap-v paratus is shown as applied to an outlet 40 through which the exhaust products of combustion are: discharged during the operation of heating the charge of coal by direct combustion. 1 The door in this case comprises a plate 42 which has a hinged connection to a frame 44 ina manner similar tothat describedabove. The door is locked in closed position against a knife edge 46 formed on the upper edge of the frame 44 and is swung about a hin 48 by means of a power driving mechanism which operates automatical- 1y at each operation of the gas making cycle. The door op a yoke, 50 pivoted at 52 to the frame at opposite sides of the. door 42,.a pressure link 54 pivotally connecting the cross bar. 22 of the yoke 50 to the top of the plate 42 and a power driving mechanism for swin ing the yoke 50. about its Ipivot. The lengt s of the yoke 50 and lin 54 are such that when they are in vertical position and substantially in alignment, theyform a toggle which forces the door 42 against the knife edge of the 'frame 44 and locks the door crating mechanism comprises unlocks the toggle and then draws thelink 54 into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. i v l The yoke 50 is swung about its pivot-52- to' open the door 42 by means of a driving rod 56 which is pivotally connected at one end to the cross bar of the yoke 50 and is connected at its other end to a cross'head 58 of a piston rod 60. The piston rod '60 and the cross head 58 are reciprocated in a vertical direction by a piston 62 mounted in a cylinder 64 and operated by the admissi on of water under pressure to 64through pipes 66 or 68. The cross head 58 is guided by rollers 7 0 running in vertical guides 72 mounted on the discharge'outlct 40 by means of brackets 74. y

During certain steps of the gas making operation the door 42 is open to permit the escape of exhaust gases from the outlet 40 and during other steps of the process, the 'door is closed to prevent the escape of gases.

the cylinder At the beginning of the operation in which I gases are allowed to escape, fluid under pres- 'sureis admitted through a pipe 66 to the upper faceof the piston '62 and the piston rod and driving rod 56 are drawn downwardly. The downward movement or the driving rod 56 swings theyoke 50 and pres sure link 54 out of alignment and unlocks the toggle formed by the yoke and pressure link. The further movement of the piston 62 and swinging of the yoke 50 opens the door 42 at first slowly and with increasing.

speed as the yoke 50 swings past the hinge 48. When this step in the gas making processis completed and the door 42 is'"to be closed, pressure is admitted through pipe 68 to the lower side of the piston 62 to force the piston rod. 60 and driving rod 56 upwardly. The upward movement of the driving rod 56 swings the yoke 50 to the left, closing the door 42 with a rapid initial movement and with a slower movement as theyoke and pivoted at the other end to said door, and meansfor swingin said yoke and pressure-link to open and 2. A closure apparatus which comprises in combination a door frame having a knife edge, a door mounted on said frame to be a door pivoted at one side ofa yoke pivoted to c ose said door.

swung into contact with said knife edge, a

yoke pivoted to opposite sides of said frame and arranged toswing over said door, a

. in combination a door frame having a knife edge, a door mounted on said frame to be swung into-contact with said knife edge, a yoke pivoted to the frame at opposite sides I of said door and arranged to swing over said and yoke being in alignment door, a pressure link pivoted at one end to said yoke and at the other end to said door, means for varying the length of said link. and means for swinging said yoke upon its pivot.

4. The combination with a door frame and a door hinged to said frame, of a yoke pivoted to said frame at opposite sides of said door, a pressure link extending from the cross-piece of said yoke to said door, a driving rod pivoted on said yoke adjacent said pressure link, and means for driving said rod to open or closed position.

5. The combination with a door frame and a door hinged to said frame, of a yoke pivoted at opposite sides of said door frame, a pressure link extending from the cross-piece of said yoke to said door, a driving rod pivoted on said yoke adjacent said pressure link, a guide for said driving rod, means for driving said rod to open or closed position.

6. The combination with a door frame and a door hinged to said frame, oted on saidframe and positioned to swing in the same direction as said door, a pressure link pivotally connecting the cross-bar of said yoke to said door, said pressure link in closed position, and means-for swinging said yoke about its pivot.

A closure apparatus which comprises in combination a'frame, a door pivoted at one side of anopening in said frame, a yoke pivoted to said frame and free to swing over said door, a pressure link extending from said yoke to said door, a power operated piston adjacent said furnace, and a link connecting the piston rod of said piston to the cross-bar of said yoke.

8. A closure apparatus, which comprises in combination a frame, a door pivoted at one side to an opening in said frame, a yoke pivoted to said frame and free to swing over said door, a pressure link extending from said yoke to said door, a piston and cylinder mounted adjacent said frame, a connecting link connecting the piston rod of said pieton to the cross-bar of said yoke, and a guide for said piston rod.

9. A closure apparatus comprising a door frame, a door pivotally mounted to said frame to swing in contact therewith, a yoke pivoted to the frame at diametrically opposite points of the door frame in' closed position, and a link pivotally connected between a central portion of the yoke and a of a yoke pivportion of the door .in approximate alinement with the closed so as to form a toggle with the yoke.

10. The combination and a door hinged to said frame of a yoke having a cross-piece and pivoted onopposite sides of said door frame, a pressure link extending from the cross-piece of said yoke to said door to form a togglewith the yoke, a driving rod pivoted on said yoke adjacent said pressure link, rod, and means ror driving said rod into positions to open or close said door.

11. ,-The combination of a frame having an opening therein, a door pivoted at one side 0 said opening, a yoke pivoted to said frame at points on opposite sides of said opening and removed from the door pivot, a link pivoted to said door at a point removed from the door pivot, said link being also pivoted to said yoke at a point removed from the yoke pivot, and means for swinging said yoke-to open and close said door.

12. The combination of a opening therein, a door pivoted at one side of said opening, a yoke pivoted to said frame at points on opposite sides of said opening and removed from the door pivot, a link pivframe having an oted to said door at a point removed from from the door pivot, said link being also" pivoted to' said yoke at a point removed from the yoke pivot, ing said yoke to open and close said door, said means being connected to said yoke. at a point near the point of connection between the yoke and said link.

14.. The combination of a frame having an opening therein, a door pivoted on the side of said opening, a yoke pivoted to said frame at points on opposite sides of said opening and removed from the door pivot, a link pivoted to said door at a point removed from the door pivot, said link being also pivoted to said yoke at a point removed from the yoke pivot, and means for swinging .said yoke to open and close said door, said yoke and link lying within approximately the same plane when the door is closed, said means comprising a member limiting the swing of said yoke.

In testimony whereof I'afiix my signature.

WILBUR G. LAIRD.

with a I door frame.

a guide for said driving yoke points when the door 

